Knoxville City Council Regular Meeting – September 29, 2026

The Knoxville City Council met on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Main Assembly Room, 400 W Main St, Knoxville. The meeting was called to order, followed by an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. All nine council members were present. The agenda was adopted with several adjustments: item 11H (appeal by Rachel Craig) was postponed to October 13, 2026, and item 12i (Lyons View overlay resolution) was moved ahead of item 11G. The consent calendar was approved with item 12o removed and later considered separately.

Mayor's Report & Announcements

• Mayor Kincannon thanked city partners for a safe and successful weekend involving a presidential visit, ESPN Game Day, and a top-ranked college football game. She reported no major problems and praised the smooth coordination.
• Upcoming public engagement opportunities: "What's Next Knoxville" input sessions (in-person and online at whatsnextknoxville.com), a survey on the former public safety building site (KCDC.org Hill Avenue Input), and National Night Out on October 6, 2026 (5:30–7:30 PM at Urban Wilderness Gateway Park).
• Councilmember Adams reported the Rules Committee met but has no immediate proposals. Councilmember Thomas noted the success of Knoxville’s first jazz festival (Silk Festival). Councilmember Honeycutt recognized a Boy Scout and UT Baker School students in attendance. Councilmember Grant provided updates on Hill Avenue input sessions (next on October 12, 2026, 5–7 PM at Cal Johnson Community Center) and the CPAG process.

Consent Calendar

• September 15, 2026 Minutes: Approved unanimously.
• 9b – Affordable Housing Fund Advisory Committee Reappointments: Resolution confirming the reappointment of Joshalyn Hundley and appointment of James "Jay" Moneyhun, Jr. Approved unanimously.
• 9c – African American Equity Restoration Taskforce Appointments: Resolution confirming appointments of Kimberly Black, Melissa Nelson, Nathalie De La Torre, Areka Edwards, April Hardin-Jones, and Brian Brooks. Councilmember Grant noted this brings the taskforce to eight members (quorum of eight out of eleven). Approved unanimously.
• 12j – Asset Health Agreement: Authorizes a contract for technology and wellness program support at $55,000/year. Approved.
• 12k – Employee Network, Inc. Agreement: Authorizes an Employee Assistance Program (Bree Health) for city employees, retirees, and Knoxville Area Transit employees at approximately $110,000/year. Approved.
• 12l – Roadway Solutions LLC Guardrail Replacement: $75,000/year for the 2026 Citywide Guardrail Replacement Program. Approved.
• 12m – Tennessee Guardrail, Inc. Guardrail Replacement: $75,000/year for the same program. Approved.
• 12n – Empowerment Zone Funding Resolution: Authorizes revising financial mechanisms to redevelop blighted properties for affordable housing using Round II Empowerment Zone funds. Approved.
• 13s – Audit Committee Reconstitution: Ordinance amending city code to reconstitute the Audit Committee per Tennessee Code Annotated § 9-3-405. Passed on first reading.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 12o – Gun Crime Grant (Department of Justice): Elizabeth Pop (37917) spoke in opposition, arguing that KPD has leadership issues and that the $300,000 grant (no local match) should instead fund alternative crisis response. She cited $86 million already allocated to KPD and called for $1.45 million for a civilian alternative response program. The grant was approved after her comment.
• Public Forum: Vivian Scheipe (3615 MLK) urged council members to hold district town hall meetings with disabled residents to address delays in reconvening the Mayor's Council on Disability Issues, which has been postponed to 2027. She advocated for monthly reporting by each council member on disability issues.

Discussion Items

• 12i – Resolution for Lyons View Conservation/Historic Overlay Study: Councilmember Honeycutt proposed a resolution requesting Knoxville-Knox County Planning to study a possible Conservation (NC) or Historic (H) Overlay for the Lyons View area (residential parcels south of Echo Drive, east and south of Grandview Drive, west of Lyons View Pike, north of Oak Grove Lane, and fronting Agnes Road, plus parcel IDs 121CA031, 121CA030, 107NG001). Three speakers (Elizabeth Fowler Baines, Malaika Adero, Steve Davis) testified in support, describing the historic African American community dating to the 1800s, family ties, and desire to preserve heritage. Council members expressed strong support, noting this initiates a study process, not a final overlay. Approved unanimously.
• 11g – Religious Exemption Appeal (Bentley Marlowe): An appeal of the Board of Zoning Appeals’ denial of a religious exemption for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 1406 Wallace Street (RN-2 district). The appellant (R. Bentley Marlowe, executive director of Marlowe Charities) argued that zoning requirements (owner-occupancy, ADU size limit of 40%, duplex conversion) substantially burden his religious exercise of providing affordable housing. Parker Bartholomew of Angelic Ministries supported, citing a prior city exemption granted on Brown Avenue. The city (Plans Review Director Peter Ahrens, Law Department attorney Christina McGran-Stillery, Fire Captain Kevin Boss) opposed, citing fire safety concerns, inconsistencies between Mr. Marlowe’s statements and actions (including high rents, past social media comments), and alternative options such as middle housing approval. After deliberation, council determined the appellant did not meet the burden of proving a substantial burden on religious exercise. Motion to deny the appeal passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Postponement: Item 11H (appeal by Rachel Craig) postponed to October 13, 2026, by mutual agreement.
• Consent Agenda Revised: Item 12o removed for separate vote but later approved after public comment.
• Item 12i – Lyons View Overlay: Resolution passed unanimously; Planning Commission will study and recommend whether to add a Conservation or Historic Overlay.
• Item 11g – Marlowe Appeal: Denied unanimously; Board of Zoning Appeals decision upheld. No religious exemption granted.
• Item 12o – Gun Crime Grant: Approved (motion carried) despite public opposition; $300,000 grant applied for with no local match.
• All other consent and discussion items (resolutions 12j–12n, 13s) passed unanimously.
• Councilmember Grant committed to further oversight of violence prevention spending and called for transparent reporting.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:45 PM.